Page 48 of Claim Me

“He’s right,” Nox adds, some of his mirth dissipating. “I was just trying to tell Kaspian to start treating you like a person. Nolan is the one who mentioneddatingas an interrogation tactic.”

“But you did sayseduce,” she reminds him.

“I did,” Nox agrees. “But when I seduce you, it won’t be to make you talk; it’ll be to make you scream.”

Her full lips part at his blatant statement, her cheeks pinkening in response. “I, um, oh.” She swallows. “Um.” She clears her throat. “Okay.”

I try not to smile at her response, but I can’t quite hold back the crinkling of my eyes. “Do you know that you sometimes moan when you like a certain food?” I ask her softly.

She blinks, likely startled by the abrupt subject change. “What?”

“You release this gentle sound, one that’s barely audible, but I hear it every time.” I reach out to tuck one of her blonde strands behind her ear. “That’s my only motivation when making you food—that sound.” She didn’t make it with her crisps this time, but she has before. That’s how I knew they were her favorite.

“I…” She clears her throat again. “Thank you?”

This time my smile breaks free. “You’re welcome.”

Nox unleashes his grin on her as well as he straightens his spine, thus staring down at her again thanks to our size differences.

“This is… getting weird,” she says slowly. “Stop kneeling.”

“Only if you say you forgive us,” Nox tells her.

She rolls her eyes. “Fine. I forgive you.”

“Hmm, no. That’s not very convincing, firefly. I’m going to need a little more heart.”

Her emerald irises glitter as she glares up at Nox. “Excuse me?”

He doesn’t reply, just holds her gaze with an expectant expression.

“You know what? If you really want my forgiveness, you’ll need to take me out for a day. Somewhere off palace grounds.” Her tone suggests a hint of sarcasm, but those green orbs flash with the desperation of her request.

She experienced a subtle taste of freedom today with her walk through the tunnels. And while it probably wasn’t the mostfreeingexperience, it likely rekindled her need to be allowed to leave these rooms.

“Okay,” Nox says.

“Okay?” she repeats.

“Okay,” he echoes. “I’ll talk to Kaspian.”

She snorts. “He’ll just say no.”

“He will,” Nox concedes. “But Bane and I will make him say yes.” He glances at me. “Won’t we?”

“We will,” I agree. Because now Fallon is more than just a guest in the palace—she’s our mate. Which means we’re entitled to make demands on her behalf.

Both of Fallon’s blonde brows shoot upward. “You’re really going to try to convince him?”

“Of course. It’s what you want.” Nox makes it sound simple because it is simple. “Leave it with me and Bane. We’ll figure it out. And then we can call it a real date.”

“But not one where we’re trying to make you talk,” I’m quick to add.

“Right. Just a date.” Nox focuses on me. “Maybe to the lagoon?”

“The lagoon would be nice.” I’ve only been once and quite enjoyed the thermal spa. “Followed by a picnic?”

Nox nods. “A perfect date.”